She’s had mixed results through two early-season races. After winning the pole position at the Daytona 500 two weeks ago, she finished an encouraging seventh. Last week’s race at Phoenix went less swimmingly, as Patrick lost a tire and crashed into the wall on the 176th lap. In the end, she came in 39th place.

“My neck was sore after last weekend for sure, which it’s never been sore after a wreck,” Patrick said.

But Patrick believes she’s in position to bounce back Sunday. Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a venue where she’s always felt at ease.

The aforementioned debut in 2010 was the only time Patrick left the speedway unhappy, as she wrecked her car on the 84th lap of the day.

“I feel like every time I’ve been here, we run pretty decent,” Patrick said.

Drivers say that comfort with a racetrack is important, especially one with a personality as unique as Las Vegas’.

“Fast, high-bank racetrack with some real challenges,” Jeff Gordon described. “That’s what competitors love. They love a good challenge. The competition brings that in itself. That seems to always come out here.”

“I know this is probably wrong to admit, but I didn't really have Phoenix marked on the calendar as the one that we were going to go win the first race,” Edwards said. “I was looking at Vegas as the race that would be the really good one.”

There will be no shortage of stiff competition standing in Patrick’s way. But she’s not intimidated.

She’d even put money on herself to place in the top 25.

“I would, but I think even the best of us can have bad weekends,” Patrick said. “They happen.”